"Oriana" Western Mediterranean and Spain Cruise
24th October - 11th November 2018
Anne and I Sailed from Southampton on the 24th October for what turned out to be our last cruise aboard Oriana. We were due to call at Cartegena, Valencia, Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Naples, Malta, Cagliara, Gibraltar and Cadiz. Due to bad weather, however, the call to Civitavecchia was cancelled as we were approaching the entrance because of high winds and the lack of tugs to assist us in. It was to be our last voyage aboard her because it was announced that the ship had been sold to the Chinese to become either a floating hotel or conference centre.... grim echos of her predecessor who suffered the same fate until she was finally scrapped. I feel sad because this Oriana was the last ship built for P and O when the company was still a British Company. She is due to leave P and O Cruises in July 2019. The photograph, left, is of the "old" P and O Stem Plaques which always used to be attached to every vessel. There are still some Princess Cruises vessels that still have the plaque, put there when that company was part of the P and O Group. Not all the ports we visited have been included here because they have been included in other cruising pages. |
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Cartagena |
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The Bay of Biscay from the Promenade Deck |
A strange British Flagged Yacht in Cartagena |
A Classic Pre WW2 Steam Yacht at Cartagena Boat Yard |
"Oriana" alongside at Cartagena |
Valencia |
"Sea Cloud" and " Wind Star" |
"Sea Cloud" |
"Wind Star" leaving Port with " Sea Cloud" on her Starboard Side |
Barcelona |
"Artania" at Barcelona, formerly P and O's "Artemis" and before that "Royal Princess" |
Pulmantur's "Zenith" at Barcelona |
Gaudi's unfinished Cathedral |
Front of Gaudi Cathedral |
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Concrete Columns inside Cathedral |
Cathedral Stained Glass |
Corner of the Cathedral |
Gaudi Park Museum Building |
The Gaudi Lizard, situated in the middle of the Park and made up of pieces of ceramic tiles. Very clever |
Ceramic faced and decorated Wall Columns lining the steps to the main building in Gaudi Park |
"Oriana" joined by "Queen Victoria" |
At Sea |
"Oriana's" new carpet |
Presentation Painting of the First Oriana, subscribed by former members of P and O Australia. |
List of Subscribers of P and O Australia to the Oriana Painting. Some of whom I knew. |
Port Presentation Plaques given to the ship on her Maiden Calls to each place |
Port Presentation Plaques, opposite to the those on the left. |
Presentation Shield from Hobart in Tasmania |
Gibraltar |
Approaching Gibraltar |
View over Gibraltar from the Summit |
"Oriana" at Gibraltar |
Cadiz |
British Flagged Private Yacht |
Part of the Royal Riding School Hall |
Royal Riding School Hall |
Entrance to Gonzales Byass Winery Barrel Display |
Gonzales Byass Winery |
Gonzales Byass Wine Shop |
Gonzales Byass Shop Entrance |
So it is Farewell to our favourite ship, such a shame that she is going. The Chief Engineer told me that there were extensive plumbing problems which now needed continual attention. In fact during this voyage we experienced a few places where water pipes had burst and the subsequent flooding meant humidifiers and hot air fans were being used a lot to try and counteract the problem. What a pity but she will remain in our memories as a lovely ship inside, not so picturesque from the outside, except for her Stern Galleries which were quite something. |